How to Choose the Best Mattress For You

Getting a new mattress can seem like a mundane chore for some people. But if you want quality, restful sleep, you will find that finding the best mattress isn’t so simple. In fact, with the variety of choices available, it can be downright challenging.

So, to help make shopping for a new mattress a bit easier for you and ensure that you choose the best one for your needs, we've put together the following tips.

Knowing when it’s time for a change

Do you absolutely need a new mattress?

A mattress can cost several hundreds or thousands of dollars, so it’s no small investment. To determine if it’s really time to get a new mattress, be on the lookout for the following signs:

• You’ve had the same mattress for over 10 years. It doesn’t matter if you have a 20-year warranty. This usually covers only parts replacement and workmanship, and not necessarily ensures the support and comfort your mattress is supposed to provide.
• You feel tired when you wake up, even with 7 to 8 hours of sleep. This is because you may be tossing and turning at night in your uncomfortable bed.
• You wake up with aches and pains. If you practice proper sleep hygiene and yet wake up with a backache or other types of aches and pains, you might need to assess just how well your mattress is supporting you.
• You find yourself relaxing and sleeping better in other beds. If you happen to sleep over at a friend’s place or fall asleep in another room in your house, you should probably look into getting a new mattress for yourself.
• The springs in your mattress are creaking or there’s already a noticeable sag. When a spring mattress breaks down and loses its resiliency, it can make noises when you sit or land in it, and there could already be a visible sag. It’s worth noting that excessive sagging can cause back pain.
• Your mattress starts to feel like a hammock. When you sink into your mattress the way you would in a hammock, it could be a sign that the core has softened immensely and has reached a level of wear and tear where replacement is necessary.
• Your bed has become a haven for dust mites. Although memory foam, latex, and waterbeds are resistant to dust mites, other mattress types are not. So if you have frequent allergy flare-ups, it might be time to get a new mattress.
• Your bed can no longer support your weight. We all experience weight fluctuations due to stress, disease, diet, pregnancy, or ageing. When your mattress has become too soft or lacks the necessary bounce to support your weight, it’s probably time to start shopping for a new one.

Material considerations

If you ask around about which mattress material is ideal, you’re bound to get different opinions. This is because finding the right mattress boils down to your personal preferences.

That being said, there are different types of mattresses, and each one offers certain advantages. Below are the most common ones you’ll encounter:

1. Innerspring or coils

The most widely used variety are innerspring mattresses. Although considered old-fashioned, they have also been subject to innovation through the years, with some featuring pillow, latex, or memory foam components. One obvious advantage innerspring mattresses offer is the range of materials and prices available, so there’s one suitable for every budget.

2. Latex

There are two types of latex mattresses: natural and synthetic.

Natural or organic latex (which is the material we use at Nature’s Embrace) is not only a healthy and environment-friendly option but is also considered one of the best mattress materials. It provides superior support at the right firmness, while also being cool and comfortable, with just the right bounce.

Nature’s Embrace has two categories of organic latex mattresses: the customizable Hevean Signature Series mattresses and the Classic Series mattresses.

3. Memory foam

Memory foam is the brainchild of NASA and was originally used as a safety material in seat cushions. However, it has since penetrated the mattress industry and has gained popularity as it provides excellent support and great comfort to the body.

Its appeal lies in its unique ability to conform to the contours of the human body and bounce back to its original form. Its motion isolation feature also ensures you get to sleep even when your partner is tossing and turning.

However, some downsides of memory foam are that it retains heat, and some mattresses have been known to give off a chemical smell.

4. Air mattresses

Although air mattresses look like standard innerspring mattresses, these feature air-filled chambers have a foam top layer. Originally developed for use among patients with spinal cord injuries, air beds are adjustable so if you share a bed with a partner, you can each tailor the firmness on your side of the bed according to your individual preference.

However, you also need to ensure that your air bed is firm enough to give you the support and comfort you require to avoid waking up to backaches and pain.

5. Hybrid mattresses

A hybrid mattress combines the support of innersprings or polyurethane foam with the contouring and motion isolation qualities of memory foam or latex. Depending on the level of firmness you want, the amount of comfort foam used differs widely, although the optimum foam thickness is set at 2 inches.

Support and your sleeping position

Ultimately, the best mattress for you should give you the support your body (especially your back) needs, especially in relation to your sleeping position.

Are you a back, side, or stomach sleeper? Perhaps you’re a combination sleeper who is comfortable sleeping in more than one position. Whichever sleeping styleyou have, take note of the basics below:

• Back sleepers usually require a firm mattress or one that’s just soft enough to give pressure relief while offering excellent lumbar support.
• Side sleepers usually require softer mattress options that prevent discomfort in the shoulder and hip areas.
• Stomach sleepers have the worst sleeping position, so they need a mattress that will help keep the spine normally aligned to prevent back pain. A medium or medium-firm mattress is usually recommended for this group.
• Combination sleepers tend to have more mattress choices as they can sleep in any sleeping position.

Final tips

As a last word of advice for when you go mattress hunting: Cheapest or most expensive are not the best criteria for choosing a mattress.

Go too low and durability and quality can go down significantly. Going too high can lead you to spend more on a certain mattress when you can get the same benefits from a more reasonably priced one.

The best mattress is the one that suits you best in terms of comfort, bounce, and support.

With our tips above, you’ll be on your way to finding the best one for you.

Or you can take a shortcut and get in touch with us at Nature’s Embrace.

We offer organic latex mattresses manufactured according to stringent quality standards. You also have the option to customize your mattress to ensure you experience total comfort and relaxation.